The Federal University Dutse, Jigawa, says it has hired 55 local hunters to enhance security in and around its campus.

Its Chief Information Officer, Abdullahi Yahaya, announced this in a statement in Dutse on Tuesday.

Mr Yahaya said the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Abdulkarim Sabo, had approved hiring of the local hunters from the state’s branch of the Nigerian Hunters Council.

The engagement of the hunters according to Mr Yahaya was in order to assist the university’s security unit in patrolling the campus especially at night.

He quoted Mr Sabo as saying that the university needed the services of the hunters, because of their vast knowledge of the communities coupled with their ruggedness.

The spokesperson added that the hunters were given a three-week training by the security division before deploying them to the field.

“When the Chief Security Officer of the University, retired Col. Abubakar Siddique brought the idea, the management bought into it  because of the complex security problems facing the country.

“The hunters, FUD security and the Nigerian Police now conduct daily joint patrol of the campus at night and at the same time complementing our security in other areas.

“The VC also said those who display exceptional skills and commitment among them would be rewarded,” the spokesperson said.

According to him, Mr Sabo has called on the members of staff and students of the university to cooperate with its security division.

He further pointed out that the gesture was aimed at ensuring the security of lives and property in the university.

Mr Yahaya said that, as part of his efforts to provide adequate security to the students, the VC has also banned ”nightcrawlers” from the university.

“While patrolling the campus at night, Sabo impounded tinted vehicles at girls’ hostels, whose owners’ suspicious activities with the female students were against the university’s rules and regulations.

“The VC, who noted that the female students are in the university to study and as their guardian, the management will not allow outsiders to compromise their moral values.

“He added that such female students whose actions were found wanting during the night patrol had been reported to their parents,” he said.

The spokesperson also quoted Mr Sabo as warning that “the university will not tolerate tinted cars in daytime and most importantly at night.

“The VC advised those who claimed to be fiancés to the female students to visit them in their family homes and not in the university at night, more so in tinted cars.

“He warned that anybody caught henceforth would be prosecuted, as the university had since banned tinted cars from the campus,” he said.

The spokesperson said the VC, also warned both academic and non- academic staff against sexual harassment of students, and the students from engaging in improper behavior towards staff of the university.

(NAN)